Shoe sole laying machine



l Dec. l, 1942. l LEQNET'n 2,303,848

sHoE soLE LAYING MACHINE r Filed July 22, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fig/URE! J 'A 6 Mv l ATvaR/vfy l, 1942 J. LEoNr-:Trl

SHOE SOLE LAYING MACHINE Filed Ju ly 22, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 :www

Patented Dec. l, 1942 ice 8 Claims.

The present invention relates to a device for eecting the equal distribution of pressure over the entire shoe sole in the process of ceinenting the same to its upper.

It is one object of the invention to provide a device of the character indicated whereby substantially equal pressure can be appliedl to all parts of a shoe sole when in position on a shoe, regardless of its size, shape, or relative dimensions in length and breadth.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device of the character indicated wherein the desired equalization of pressure may be quickly and easily accomplished by simple inanual adjustments when the shoe is in place.

It is still another object oi the invention to provide a structure of the character indicated so constructed and arranged that a relatively thin pad may be substituted for the thick rubber pad now commonly used, with the specific advantages hereinafter set forth.

Finally, it is an object to provide a device of the character indicated that will be so constructed and arranged that the desired equalization of pressure on the center of the sole, along its edges and on the shank will be elected sirnply, positively, and with but little mechanical complication.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a plan view of a device embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is an inner end view of one of the shank pressure blocks.

Figure 3 is an inner end view of one of the end blocks adjoining the shank blocks.

Figure 4 is an end View oi one of the take-up blocks adjoining the neXt-to-the-shank blocks.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the resiliently mounted extension member in one of the take-upblocks.

Figure 6 is a iront elevation of the block shown in Figure 4.

Figure i Figure 1.

is a sectional view on line I-l on Figure 8 is a side elevation of the device'as shown in Figure l.

In the drawings, I indicates a base plate having an upstanding wall 2 extending along its two sides and curving around one end, the top and the other end of the device being entirely open.

Extending rearwardly from the lower portion of the rear edge of each side portion and lying in the plane thereof, is a series oi steps as 3 forining a rack for the purpose hereinafter described. This rear portion of the side wall extends upformed a deep slot as at I3c and 20c.

wardly above the forward portion, each side portion having spaced vertical channels as l and 5 formed in its inner face as shown.

The forward portion of the wall 2 terminates, on its inner top edge, in an upwardly directed horizontal rib. 6, and outwardly from thisan upstanding portion I with a channel 8 formed therebetween.

Formed integrally with the base I, and spaced apart on the longitudinal center line of said base, are two upright pins as 9 and Ill in the Vposition shown, and immediately forward oi' these pins are two laterally spaced pins as I I and i2. Each pin has disposed thereon a coiledspring designated by the same reference character followed by the letter a.

At i3, Irl, I5, IS, II, i8, I9 and 2B are pressure plates arranged in pairs; that is, Il and 2B form an aligned cooperating pair, so also do It and I9, I5 and IS, and I6 and Il. Inasmuch as the side portions of wall 2 are straight and parallel for a distance, and are connected by a semicircular portion, it follows that the plates I5, I6, I1, I8 take the formof segments of a circular disc, and the plates I3, Ill, i9 and 2l) are trapezoidal in form, all of the plates extending from the wall 2 to the longitudinal center line of the plate I.

Gn the underside of the end of each plate abutting the wall 2 is formed a channel as at I3a to 2da, thereby forming a hook as at ISU to. Zlib, adapted to engage the rib 6. In the abutting ends of plates I3 and 2B, on the underside thereof is formed a socket 2| adaptedv to receive the top end oi, and seat upon, spring 9a.. In the abutting ends of plates Ill and I9 is formed a similar socket 22 engaging spring Ita. Plates I-lll and I 'I--I8 are similarly supported on springs Ila and Ita seating in sockets 23 and 24.

In the rear edge of each plate I3 and 20 is Eachslot I3c and 2Go is inclined downwardly `and forwardly from the edge in which it is formed, and has a plate as l3nt-20d slidably mounted therein. Said plates are urged outwardly of the slots by springs as I3e--2lle, and limited in their outward movement by pins iti-20j engaging slots I 3g--2 Il g formed therein.

At 25 is shown an adjusting plate, which is, in fact, a lever of the second class loosely placed as shown between the rear portions of the side walls 2. This 'plate is tted with side guide pins as 25a litting loosely in vertical channels 4 to prevent its movement longitudinally of theV device, and yet permit its free Vertical adjustment. The forward edge of this plate 25 is fulcrumed as at 25b, and its rear end projects beyond the rear end of the device to form handles 25o. Upon the handles 25o are pivotally mounted pawls as 26 on pivots 21. These pawls are in the form of bell-cranks, with their finger-grasping ends extending rearwardly as at 26a, and their rack engaging ends extending laterally as at 2Gb. rIhe pawls 26 are urged into engagement with their respective racks by springs as 28 connected to their rack engaging ends and to the plate as shown.

On the upper surface of the plate 25 are disposed upstanding pins as shown at 29, 30, 3|, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36, each pin supporting a spring indicated by the same numeral followed by the letter a.

At 31 and 38 are shown two identical shank supporting blocks mounted on springs 29-36 and 3|-32 respectively, through the medium of sockets 31a and 38a formed in the bottom thereof. At 39 and 4!) are shown two rear shank supporting blocks mounted on the springs 33a-34a and 35u-36a, respectively, through the medium of sockets 39a and 40a formed in the bottom thereof.

The forward end of the adjusting plate 25 is not fulcrumed at 25h on the bottom but upon the forward edge portion of a member 4| lying upon, and extending transversely of, the said bottom I. This member 4| is provided with end pivot pins 4|a engaging channels 5, the pivot pin on one end extending through the wall 2 and being tted with an operating lever 42 which engages a notched member 43 disposed on the side of the device.

In known devices of this type it is customary, in fact necessary to lay a thick rubber pad over the pressing means in an attempt to secure uniform pressure. But in the present instance the plates are so arranged and so closely placed, that only a relatively thin pad is required, as indicated in dotted lines at 44.

When, therefore, the device is assembled ready for use and a shoe, as 45, is placed thereon, no manual adjustment of the forward plates |3 to 2D, is required. But since there is a wide variation in the contours of the shank portions of shoes, the blocks 31, 38, 39 and 4U may be quickly adjusted to a rough approximation of these contours, by raising the fulcrum 25h through the loperation of lever 42 to elevate the blocks 31-38 to contact with the shoe, and by adjusting the pawls 26 on racks 3 to elevate the rearmost blocks 39 and 40 to the extent desired.

After the preliminary adjustments have been made, pressure is applied to the shoe upper and sole in the usual manner, either from above or below, and in the direction indicated by arrows 46.

Since the plates |3d and 20d are constantly urged outwardly into Contact with the blocks 31 and 38, there is no gap between the plates I3 and 20, and blocks 31 and 38, and this condition prevails at all times regardless of the extent to Iwhich the blocks 31-38 are raised or tilted. Consequently, when the pad 44 is in position it is firmly supported over its whole area, and at all times.

The blocks 31, 38, 39 and 4l) have centrally and forwardly sloping upper surfaces, of any suitable contour to form a bed for the shank of the shoe, and their movement, when under pressure, is substantially vertical. But the plates `I3 to 20 are flat on top, and their outer edges are solidly supported so that when depressed on their inner ends through the medium of the lasted upper, the desired pressure will be applied all around the edge of the sole as well as to the central portion.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A shoe sole laying device including, a pair of contiguous duplicate rows of opposed, independent, and rigid plates presenting a top surface having a longitudinal contour substantially that of the sole on the shoe, rigid supporting means for the outer ends of the plates, a fixed base plate, and resilient means disposed on the base plate to support the abutting ends of the first named plates.

2. In a shoe sole layingdevice of the character described, a fixed base plate, upstanding and rigid supporting means disposed thereon, a pair of contiguous duplicate rows of opposed, independent and rigid plates presenting a top surface having a longitudinal contour substantially that of the sole on the shoe mounted at their outer ends to swing vertically on said supporting means, and resilient means disposed to support the abutting ends of said last mentioned plates.

3. In a shoe sole laying device, a base plate, a wall rising therefrom to form an enclosure of greater lateral dimensions than a shoe sole, said wall having a rib formed on its inner side parallel with the base and spaced therefrom, a pair of contiguous duplicate rows of opposed, rigid, and independent plates presenting a top surface having a longitudinal contour substantially that of the sole on the shoe, each plate having a channel formed on the under side of its outer end to rockably seat upon said rib, and resilient means disposed to support the abutting ends of the said plates.

4. In a shoe sole laying device, the combination of a base plate having means disposed thereon to support the forward portion of a shoe sole, and means for supporting the shoe sole shank; said means comprising, a plate overlying the rearward portion of the base plate, means operative to adjustably support the rear end of said plate in spaced relation to said base plate, resilient means mounted on said overlying plate, and shoe sole shank supporting blocks mounted on said resilient means.

5. The structure set forth in claim 4 including means operative to vertically adjust the forward end of the overlying plate.

6. The structure set forth in claim 4 including a member disposed to underlie the forward edge of the said overlying plate and pivoted on the base plate at its rear edge and provided with means operative to tilt its forward edge upwardly to raise the forward edge of the overlying plate.

7. A shoe sole laying device comprising, a pair of contiguous duplicate rows of opposed plates presenting a top surface having a longitudinal 4contour substantially that of the sole on the shoe,

rigid supporting means for the outer ends of the plates for supporting the forward portion of the shoe sole, resilient means disposed to support the abutting ends of said plates, resilient means disposed to support the plates for supporting the shoe sole shank, and a fixed base plate for the several supporting means, the rearrnost plates for supporting the forward portion of the shoe sole having rearwardly and angularly upwardly directed slots formed therein in their rear edges, and plates resiliently mounted in said slots to bear against the forward edges of the foremost plates for supporting the shoe sole shank.

8. A shoe sole laying device comprising, a pair of contiguous duplicate rows of opposed plates presenting a top surface having a longitudinal contour substantially that of the sole on the shoe, rigid supporting means for the outer ends of the plates for Supporting the forward portion 0f the shoe sole, resilient means disposed to support the abutting ends of said plates, resilient means disposed to support the plates for supporting the shoe sole shank, a base plate for the several supporting means, and gap-closing means inserted between the shank supporting plates and the plates supporting the forward portion of the shoe sole.

vJOSEPH LEONETTI. 

